Atiku Pledges To Revive ECOMOG, Reintegrate Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso Into ECOWAS

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to revive the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and work towards bringing Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger back into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if elected president in 2027.

Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the pledge during an interview aired on BBC Hausa.

He said he would seek to strengthen regional cooperation on security and revive the collective approach previously adopted by West African countries in addressing conflicts in the region.

“I will convene ECOWAS leader and do meeting. In my advice, all ECOMOG security will come together to have peace in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia. We join force together like we did in the past and restore peace and have election.

“And they have passed us in democracy. I see no reason that Nigeria will not partner with Niger because there was change in government to military. What is our concern with changing of government in Niger? What is our business? We are one with Nigeria because soldiers overthrew civilian and you left them out of ECOWAS,” the politician stated.

Abubakar also criticised the handling of the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the regional bloc, saying he would seek to restore unity and strengthen cooperation among member states if elected.

“I will try those that left ECOWAS that Nigeria forced to leave ECOWAS like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. I will try to understand each and return them back to the union because the community (ECOWAS) will bring hope to our challenges especially our youths with other country,” he added.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from ECOWAS following months of political tensions between the military-led governments and the regional bloc.

The three countries had faced sanctions imposed by ECOWAS following military coups, amid disagreements over the restoration of democratic rule, regional security and national sovereignty.

The military governments accused ECOWAS of departing from its founding principles of brotherhood, solidarity and mutual assistance, while also alleging that the bloc had come under foreign influence.

Although the sanctions imposed on the three countries were later lifted, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have since strengthened their alliance through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The three countries established the alliance under the Liptako-Gourma Charter, creating a framework for collective defence and mutual assistance as they pursue closer political, economic and security cooperation outside ECOWAS.